*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* January 30, 2023 *Contact:* Amie M. Downs 412-350-3711 (office) 412-327-3700 (cell) amie.downs@alleghenycounty.us *Permanent Mail-In, Absentee Ballot Applications for 2023 Elections Sent Out* *PITTSBURGH – *The Elections Division today announced that the mail-in and absentee ballot applications have begun going out to county voters who requested to be placed on the permanent mail-in or absentee ballot list. Act 77 of 2019 provides that individuals on the list shall receive an application by the first Monday in February each year so they may apply to receive mail-in or absentee ballots again for that calendar year. All approximately 300,000 mailings will be out by this Friday, February 3, 2023. The permanent status, as defined in Act 77, has proven confusing for voters. It does not mean that voters will automatically get their mail-in or absentee ballot each year. Instead, voters only receive an application. Voters who wish to receive a mail-in or absentee ballot for 2023 elections must complete and return the application prior to the application deadline. The application contained in the mailing applies to all elections in the calendar year. Voters who wish to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot for a specific election should complete and return the online application or a paper copy of the application and should leave item # 7 on the ballot unchecked. If they apply on the permanent mailing application and later change their mind, they must cancel that status by completing and returning the *Request to Cancel Permanent Absentee or Mail-In Status* <https://alleghenycounty.us/uploadedFiles/Allegheny_Home/Dept-Content/Elections/Docs/PADOS_PermStatusCancellationForm.pdf> form available on the Elections resources webpage <https://alleghenycounty.us/elections/resources.aspx>. Voters who wish to vote in person at their polling place do not need to do anything. Voters who want to be removed from the permanent mailing list may also complete and return the *Request to Cancel Permanent Absentee or Mail-In Status* <https://alleghenycounty.us/uploadedFiles/Allegheny_Home/Dept-Content/Elections/Docs/PADOS_PermStatusCancellationForm.pdf> form available on the Elections resources webpage <https://alleghenycounty.us/elections/resources.aspx>. They may also check the box on the permanent mailing indicating that they no longer wish to receive the notice and application. That letter can then be returned to the Elections Division and the voter will be removed from the permanent list. The mailing contains a letter with instructions and a hard copy of the application. Voters can choose to complete and return the paper application or can scan a QR code on the letter which will take them to an online application. As noted above, there is also an option for voters to indicate that they wish to be removed from the permanent list. To vote by mail in the future, the voters would have to complete an application. Nothing will be sent to them. As a reminder, residents are encouraged to pay particular attention to deadlines for these applications: Last Day to Apply for Absentee or Mail-In Ballot for May 16, 2023 Primary Election* Tuesday, May 9, 2023 – Office Closes at 5 PM *Pennsylvania is a closed primary state. Only those registered in a party may vote in the primary election, unless there is a referendum question or related item on the ballot for which all voters are eligible to vote. For more information on 2023 Elections, visit the main elections website at https://alleghenycounty.us/elections # # # Jessica Garofolo, Director * Department of Administrative Services – Division of Elections* 604 County Office Building │ 542 Forbes Avenue │ Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: 412-350-4500 │ Fax: 412-350-5697 www.alleghenycounty.us *Follow us:* allegheny alerts <http://www.alleghenycounty.us/alerts>* | * facebook <http://www.facebook.com/AlleghenyCounty>* | *google+ <http://plus.google.com/+alleghenycounty>* | *instagram <http://www.instagram.com/alleghenycounty>* | *linkedin <http://www.linkedin.com/company/allegheny-county>* | *pinterest <http://www.pinterest.com/alleghenycounty>* | *twitter <http://twitter.com/Allegheny_Co>* | *youtube <http://www.youtube.com/AlleghenyCounty> -- Click here to visit our website <https://hpccpgh.org/>